Today’s high-performance facades are simulated and perfected long before they are ever built. Sometimes, even, thanks to social media and global connectivity, a building’s swooping form or glistening glass walls become the darling of the public eye years before it is ready for occupants, raising the bar even further on the aesthetics and function of new landmarks. Designer, fabricator, and installer must work in tandem to achieve the desired results, using collaborative design approaches that would have been unimaginable even a few years ago.
In this article, we will look at the research and development being done in emerging areas of façade materials, design, and performance, and examine real-world projects that combine research innovation, collaborative design processes, and construction feasibility to improve not only façade performance, but also human comfort.

The first part of this course introduces the goals of acoustic design, methods of noise control and how various interior design elements can help achieve good acoustic performance in an office setting. The second part explains, in acoustical terms, several of the principles behind the use of these techniques and materials. Through examples of how sound masking works in conjunction with absorptive elements, it also demonstrates that a combination of acoustic treatments is key to achieving the desired results.

The term Measurement and Verification (M&V) means using pre-determined data to quantifiably measure performance and then comparing this to a predicted outcome. This course will discuss why it is important to evaluate outcomes for every energy efficiency project, and the importance of picking the appropriate type of M&V process and tools to meet a project’s needs. Learners will be able to use the M&V concepts immediately to bring transparency and expectation setting to their projects.

This course covers a situation analysis of green valuation in relation to property, along with the misconceptions of “green” in the marketplace. It discusses what’s new in green valuation, and takes a closer look at the Appraisal Institute’s efforts in the green space.

This course will review various fenestration substrates and surface finishes, with an in-depth look at the American Architectural Manufacturers Association (AAMA) standards and test procedures for fenestration products.

More than 1,100 business owners, fleet operators, and general managers participated in a recent survey regarding their biggest fleet management challenges – and how they use technology to solve them. Responses indicate the many benefits that GPS telematics provides.

This program will challenge our conventional triple-bottom-line definition of sustainability. Is sustainable design really sustainable if construction of such features leads to death or permanent injury? Is sustainable design really sustainable if the community is not involved? LEED Pilot Credits for Social Equity are reviewed and a detailed introduction to SEED demonstrates how the two missions can be paired for the greater good. An inspiring case study of community revitalization in Kansas City’s “killing zip code” demonstrates the power of collaboration in social equity design.

NYC has taken steps to reduce their emissions since 2007. Learn about the laws they put in place to improve building performance and how they are currently enforcing these codes. With any new laws there is a learning curve – hear how NYC Department of Buildings is dealing with education and enforcement to increase compliance. See what is in the pipeline for future code compliance in this progressive city and bring these discussions to your practice or location. Code enforcement will likely be driving by cities, not a national code. Be part of the change.

From the Google[x] lab comes FLUX, an algorithm-based app for designing a building. The driving force behind the development of the app is to help designers to resolve the building crisis that we may experience in the next 35 years. The goal was to reduce the full design and construction time of a large-scale building to a 12 month cycle. It has been called a BIM-busting app. The FLUX team describes their inspiration and logic that drove this moonshot. The presentation, as well as the app challenges designers to think not about designing a building, but designing a product, a user experience and letting computers do time-consuming calculations. Will you be skeptical or inspired by this new development?

The USGBC is starting to expand their mission “beyond individual buildings to embrace…broader aspects of sustainability, including a more focused approach to social equity…”. This program starts the discussion on the newest pilot credits and challenges designers, owners, contractors and manufacturers to be more socially responsible in every stage of their projects.